I just started Weight Watchers and invested in a big bag of the Earthbound Farm baby carrots from Costco. When I opened them up this morning (bought them on Sunday) they had that slimy feel to them that I typically associate with carrots going bad. Is this just how they come packaged or do you think I got an older bag?
Take them back to Costco. They've probably been inproperly stored and maybe a bit past their prime. I prefer non-slimy carrots. Costco will take just about anything back if you're not happy with it. I once returned one of those plastic tubs of baby greens - empty, because I couldn't keep them around until I got the chance to go back to Costco. They were totally fine about the return and said I did the right thing. THEY don't want slimy veggies any more than we do.
Yah!!! It's a plague, and I have been stuck with these slippery little suckers over three different brands. New bags, small bags, hasn't mattered, and I have thrown in the sponge. Actually taken to peeling carrots again, if you can imagine it.
I wonder if there is something in the peeling down of big carrots into those little ones that bruises them and predisposes them to rot prematurely.
I still give them to my cats, after a good rinse. I'm pretty mad at my cats just now.
Two days is too fast in any event - I'd return them too. But in general, try emptying them into a new bag loosely wrapped in paper towelling. Excess surface moisture will do that to most "big piles" of vegetables stored in sealed plastic alone. If you can still find them, the Ziploc vegetable baggies covered with tiny holes to prevent condensation work very well, too.
I don't know, I haven't looked for them in stores for a long time. Several years ago, when the quart-sized bags disappeared from the shelves and the gallon size seemed to be getting spotty, I called the company and ended up ordering a case of the large ones (which turned out to be imports from the Canadian subsidiary or whatever.) Since I reuse them until they're in pretty sad shape, they're lasting a VERY long time.;) I know I started seeing them again for a while at least, but don't know about now.
You can always try giving them a call. The number on that box is probably in Canada, but it's 800-561-6869. The number from a new bag of regular Ziploc bags is 800-428-4795. The official name from the box is "Ziploc Vegetable Bags" with "freshness vents."
Sure, I'll be curious to see if they're still available at all.
I dunno why they never caught on. They were around for several years, but I guess most people just didn't pay enough attention to realize they really work well. But at least by that time I'd finally learned the lesson to stock up on anything that could potentially disappear - I can't tell you how many times things I like have been discontinued or "new & improved"-ized into oblivion. Now, I automatically by multiples of anything that isn't perishable.;)
some of the earthbound farm products seem to be packaged moist. I dont like the sliminess either - try washing them off and see if they are ok. If not, definitely return them.
Usually the vice of the older costco carrots is that they are dry on the surfact not slimy.
Slightly off topic, but any of you chowfolk find the mini carrots (I'm talking about the shaved down ones rather than the true baby carrots) to be much less tasty than whole carrots??? It seems that shaving down carrots removes a lot of that bright orange layer that has more flavor than the lighter, tougher core of the carrot.
I almost never buy the mini carrots even though they are convenient.
To keep this message on topic, whole carrots also seem to have a much longer shelf life than the minis.
Cheers...
Gusman
"Baby" carrots are a sham; a prime example of slick marketing and false advertising. They may be a smaller variety of carrot, but they are shaved on a lathe to make them 'petite'. They are factory food in the vegetable dept.
Do yourself a favor and eat plain fresh carrots. Just cut 'em up if they're too big in their true size. No one need buy these tasteless, expensive carrots more than once to know there MUST be better choices out there.
Real carrots are so much more tasty, especially those from a farmers' market. If they are available, try Royal Chantenay. They are often very thick and short--but not in the least hard, woody or soapy. They're tender all the way through and sweet as can be. These are the king of carrots AFAIC.
Good luck with your program, and treat yourself to the BEST of what you're going to eat!
You may have picked up a bag that was not properly refrigerated the whole time. As you might guess, those open-air produce coolers in most grocery stores are not very efficient, and less than ideal for every type of vegetable.
Bagged carrots should be kept cold, but protected from freezing (which can also make them slimy). If not, naturally occuring bacteria can multiply, causing the slimy feel. Fear not, it is not generally a dangerous bacteria. If the carrots are still crisp, and don't smell bad, or have moldy or rotten spots, they are probably still safe to eat. The carrots can be rinsed in plain water, but that may not get rid of all of the slimy feel, making them them less appetizing for consuming raw. As an alternative, you may want to cook them (Yes, I have done this, with no ill effects).
While in the store, you may want to check out the bags more carefully, selecting well refrigerated bags in the pile, avoiding any bags that have a milky appearance. Try feeling one or two of them through the bag to determine if they feel slick. Check the expiration date (good advice for perishable items, including bagged salad greens).
For more information, check out the Link below. I have no connection to this site, it just appears to have good information.
The vast majority of baby carrots are nothing but cut full grown carrots, processed in a tumbler to remove the outer portion, which also gives the rounded edges. Processed carrots simply don't last nearly as long as a whole unpeeled carrot. Likely nothing to do with storage conditions, and for most people they would be safe to eat. That said, whole carrots are healthier, less expensive, and taste better, but your choice.
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